By Gregory Bogel Palms
It is unfortunate that 24-year veteran police officers, such as Steve Young (“Cyclists taking turn for the worse,” letters, Nov. 16) do not know or understand the law regarding bicycles. If CHiPs officers of such longstand-ing service incorrectly quote the law, is it any wonder many bicyclists do not know it either?
In his letter, Young falsely states that “[bicycles need] to stay in a single column (as required by law).” Nowhere in the vehicle code does it state that. Instead, California Vehicle Code 21202 states that “a) Any person operating a bicycle upon a roadway at a speed less than the normal speed of traffic moving in the same direction at such time shall ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway except under any of the following situations: 1. When overtaking and passing another bicycle or motor vehicle proceeding in the same direction. 2. When preparing for a left turn at an intersection or into a private road or driveway. 3. When reasonably necessary to avoid conditions (including, but not limited to, fixed or moving objects, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, animals, surface hazards, or substandard width lanes) that make it unsafe to continue along the right-hand curb or edge.
Thus, bicycles can pass other bicycles (thereby being two, three or even four abreast), bicycles can take the whole lane if there is not enough space for them and a car, and, finally, that none of this even applies as long as bicycles are traveling at the rate of traffic. Hopefully, Steve Young and Santa Monica police officers will read this section of the vehicle code again and stop misinforming and misenforcing the law.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 29, 2007. Read the original PDF.